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Hey There!

Welcome to Issue #143 of Jobseeking is Hard!

Today’s issue is sponsored by Morning Brew! If you find value in Jobseeking is Hard, the best way to support us (for free!) is to check out our sponsors. Show 1440 some love for supporting us! Give ‘em a click! Thanks!

This week we’re talking about:

• Stupid interview questions

• A jobseeking horror story about digging up a 30-year-old diploma

• How to fix a resume that makes you look like a doer, not a leader

• The best (worst?) job posting of the week

And for Premium subscribers I’m:

• Debunking the "networking vs direct applying" debate

• Giving you a checklist for what to update on your resume each quarter

• Telling you why you should be collecting job descriptions even when you’re not actively applying

• Answering a Premium subscriber's question about career pivots. I’ll explain how to frame your background so hiring managers see you as qualified...even if you don’t have "direct" experience.

Let’s get to it! But first…

RESUME TIPS!

In case you missed it, last week I posted a roundup of my top resume tips, pulling together my best advice from the last 3 months into one place. If you missed it, check it out here.

STUPID INTERVIEW QUESTIONS

For a retail gig, I was asked, "If you were a road sign, which one would you be?"

Me, trying to figure out how to answer this:

In one of those awkward group interviews where the company is interviewing multiple candidates at once, one of the interviewers asked, "Name one person in this group who shouldn't get the job and tell us why."

Everyone sitting in that interview like:

“Would you rather be able to control your own dreams or control someone else's dreams?”

Now I’m curious…

Want to share your stupid interview questions? Reply or email [email protected] 

COMMUNITY CATHARSIS

“I declined a job offer in 2023 because the company refused to onboard me until they could prove I wasn't lying about a Marketing degree I got...in 1992!!!

I have no idea what happened to my diploma. It's probably buried in a closet somewhere in my home.

It took over 4 weeks for my former school to manually pull paper transcripts from all 40+ courses I took waaaaaaay back then. They didn't have my diploma either, so they had to piece together my school records. There was no such thing as cloud storage back then.

As I waited over a month for the school clerk to ‘deliver the goods,’ I decided to rescind my job offer acceptance. I told the hiring managers that I didn't want to work for a company that needed proof I didn't lie on my CV about a 30-year-old degree.

I still don't have a job. And I really need one. But I don't regret that decision one bit. No point in walking into a hostile workplace with my eyes wide open.”

I'm really sorry that happened. That's incredibly frustrating. When a company demands proof you're not lying about a degree from 30 years ago, that's...a lot. And if that's how they start the relationship, it's likely only downhill from there. You made the right call walking away.

Subscribers…

If there's a jobseeking horror story *you’d* like to share, reply or email [email protected] 

SHAMELESS PLUG

If your job search needs a little more help, Karpiak Consulting offers resume and LinkedIn services, as well as job search strategy coaching.

Who knows…maybe it'll help you land a $150K salary bump after a couple of promotions like this client 🤷‍♂️

So how did I help this Resume Edit client go from being unexpectedly contacted for a leadership opportunity, to actually landing it...and eventually earning 2 promotions and a $150K salary increase??

Framing for seniority.

They reached out after a recruiter contacted them out of the blue about a Director role. The opportunity was moving fast, but his resume wasn't ready. It didn't reflect his leadership, strategic impact, or career growth. He had the experience, but the document made him look more like a long-time doer than someone ready to lead at the executive level.

(Side note: The resume is a living document. Don't wait to have to update it…update it every quarter based on your experience. Then it’s ready when you need it.)

So we rebuilt it to match the level of the opportunity. And it worked.

He landed the Director role. Got promoted. Then promoted again. And now, 2 years later, he's a VP with a $150K bump in base salary to show for it.

So, how can you do this?

If you're aiming for leadership roles (Director, VP, or beyond) your resume can't just show what you've done. It needs to show how you lead, how you think, and how you drive results at scale. That means context. Not just what you did, but how you did it, why it mattered, and what changed because of it.

Are you leading cross-functional initiatives? Navigating complexity? Coaching others? Solving business problems with lasting impact?

What processes do you own? What are you accountable for? Why are you irreplaceable at work?

Spell it out for the reader.

Hiring managers aren't just looking for doers at this level; they're looking for strategic operators. So show them you're one.

If you're not sure your resume's doing that, we can help.

BEST (WORST?) JOB POST

OF THE WEEK

Here’s the job post that got the most people talking on my Instagram this week!

this is gross

If you come across an irritating job posting, email it to the newsletter or DM me on Instagram and I’ll add it to the list to post!

Today's issue is also brought to you by 1440 Media! C’mon give it a click…it costs $0 and helps support your favorite job search newsletter 🙂

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PREMIUM SUBSCRIBER QUESTION

“I’m getting interviews, but I keep hearing that they’re going with someone who has more direct experience. I’m trying to pivot from operations into customer success, and I know I have transferable skills. How do I overcome that?”

Check out the Premium Section below for my answer! Not a Premium Subscriber? Upgrade here: www.JobseekingIsHard.com/upgrade

Why upgrade? For less than $0.63/day, you get:

• Subscriber-Only Discounts: Get exclusive promo codes for Karpiak Consulting services, available only to Premium subscribers. Whether you're updating your resume, need a LinkedIn profile review, or want expert help tailoring your applications, these occasional discounts make expert support more accessible.

• Extra Tips & Advice: Gain exclusive insights, strategies, and advice from a recruiter with over 20 years of experience in the field. Discover what hiring managers truly value and how to stand out at every step of your job search.

• Access to Previous Issues: Explore a library of knowledge with all 100+ past issues of the newsletter. Each edition is packed with proven strategies, practical advice, and real-world jobseeking stories to give you an edge in today’s competitive job market. From resume tips to handling tough interview questions, you’ll find answers to every challenge.

• Exclusive Q&A: Have questions about your job search? Premium subscribers can ask Adam directly! Questions will be featured in upcoming issues, with detailed answers tailored to real-world scenarios, ensuring you get the guidance you need.

• Bonus Content: As part of your Premium subscription, you’ll receive 20 additional job search tips delivered to your inbox over the next 20 days. This includes advice on avoiding common mistakes and maximizing your job search strategy to land interviews faster.

Jobseekers, have a great rest of your week, and good luck with those applications!

-Adam

PS!! If you're enjoying the newsletter, let people know! Forward it, post it on social, tag me, whatever...the bigger the discussion, the better! The idea is to help as many people as possible!

About Adam- Recognized as a leading voice on hiring and workplace trends, Adam has been recruiting and providing career advice since 2003, developing high-trust relationships based on honesty with companies and jobseekers. A highly sought-after speaker, he has appeared in numerous outlets, including Bloomberg News, Business Insider, LinkedIn, and CNNMoney. You can find out more about Adam's resume and coaching services here.

AFFILIATES

NOTE: As an affiliate to these services, we will receive compensation if you purchase products or services through the links provided.

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